A tribute to the togolese artist
Bella Bellow

Five decades after the death of Togolese artist
Bella Bellow
Togo pays her a national tribute at the start of 2024
from January to February

               Bella Bellow, whose real name is Georgette Nafiatou Adjoavi Bellow, is an icon of Togolese music with a captivating voice. His performances are among the highlights of the history of African music. The eldest daughter of seven children, Bella Bellow was born from the union of a father of Nigerian origin and a mother of Ghanaian origin.

               This clever multicultural mix brings to life a talented, timeless Togolese artist, author, composer and lyricist. His talent and his love for Togolese culture had given him a place of choice on the prestigious world stages.

               In 1965, she performed in Cotonou, on the occasion of Benin's independence day. A year later, she participated in the first World Festival of Negro Arts in Senegal then in the Pan-African Festival in Algiers, thus opening up internationally.

               His African rhythm and his very particular voice had earned him a world tour, from the Olympia in Paris to the West Indies (Guadalupe and Guyana) via the Rio Popular Song Festival in Brazil.

               In 1968, his very first album entitled Rockia was released and confirmed his status as a major figure in Togolese music. This album consisted of 10 tracks, including the hit title Blewu, and brought together the best musicians in the world including Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango. This title was recently performed by Beninese artist Angélique Kidjo, during the Armistice commemoration ceremony on November 11th 2018.

               She died at the age of 28 in Togo, from a road accident in Lilikopé. Bella Bellow leaves unforgettable works thanks to her vocal beauty and deep wisdom. To mark this tribute, the government has decided to protect his works for another twenty years.

       “The protection of property rights over artistic works which, today, is fifty years post-mortem was very recently extended, from fifty years to seventy years post-mortem. In an emergency procedure by the government, in order to allow the works of our national pride, Bella Bellow, to continue to be covered by property rights..." reports Kossi Gbényo Lamadokou, Togolese Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Durand BIYONG